Overview

Overview of Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill - West Lake Landfill

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Solid Waste Management Program regulates Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill. Initially permitted on Nov. 18, 1985, this landfill stopped accepting waste on Dec. 31, 2004. The landfill waste mass encompasses approximately 52 acres with approximately 240 feet below the ground’s surface and a total waste thickness of 320 feet. The waste is located in two distinct areas known as the North and South Quarries. Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill lies within the boundaries of the West Lake Landfill.

On Dec. 23, 2010, Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill first reported to the Solid Waste Management Program that the landfill was experiencing elevated temperatures on some gas extraction wells. Since that time, a subsurface smoldering event at the landfill has intensified as evidenced by rapid settlement, an increase in odors and additional gas extraction wells experiencing higher temperatures. Odors have again increased as the landfill owner continues to work to contain the subsurface smoldering event and reduce odors.

More information related to Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill is available at the following links:

The West Lake Landfill site is located on 200+ acres in Bridgeton. This site is no longer accepting waste for disposal, but a portion of the facility is permitted as a solid waste processing facility that provides a service that transports municipal wastes to other landfills. The entire site was listed on the federal Superfund National Priorities List in 1990 and contains several different landfill areas, also referred to as cells. Those cells fall into four general categories:

Radiologically contaminated cells, referred to as Operable Unit 1.

Inactive cells with a mixture of debris, referred to as Operable Unit 2.

These four types of cells can be grouped together according to which entity has authority over them. Operable Units 1 and 2 are overseen by the federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. The Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill, owned by Bridgeton Landfill LLC, and is a subsidiary of Republic Services Inc., from here forward to be referred to as Bridgeton/Republic, and the Closed Demolition Landfill are regulated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Solid Waste Management Program.